Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-26

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The diagram below shows the process for recycling plastic bottles.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

How plastic bottles are recycled

Student answer (Band 5.5)

AS I can see the diagram shows the whole process of recycling the plastic bottles. In the upcoming paragraphs I will write about the full process

Overall, in the first step a person throwing plastic bottle into the dustbin. In the very next step, the dustbin pickup truck comes to pick up the waste. After that, the truck goes to recycling centre where an employee sort out the waste. Putting the plastic thing one side and other too different section. Furthermore, they compress the plastic and make a block. In the 5th step the block goes to crushing machine for crushing and then go into washing container.

After that, it delivered for next process that is producing plastic pellets and that comes out as a raw material form. 8th step, raw material binds together on a pellet. In the final step it goes for producing new products. They made plastic bottles, clothes and tiffins.

In conclusion, the picture describes how plastic bottles recycled and shows the full process. It has total 9 steps.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the recycling process, but the approach is overly simplistic and descriptive rather than analytical. The introduction is informal and unnecessary, as it describes the writer's intent rather than the diagram itself. While the steps are identified, the response lacks a clear overview of the process as a whole, which is a requirement for a high band score. The conclusion is also somewhat repetitive. To improve, focus on grouping the stages logically (e.g., collection, processing, and manufacturing) rather than listing them step-by-step in a narrative style.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps readability. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'In the very next step', 'After that', 'Furthermore'). The progression of ideas is linear, which is appropriate for a process diagram, but the transitions between sentences could be more sophisticated. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the phrase 'Putting the plastic thing one side and other too different section', which lacks grammatical cohesion and clarity.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety expected at higher levels. There is a reliance on basic terms like 'thing', 'goes', and 'made'. Some word choices are inaccurate, such as 'raw material form' or 'binds together on a pellet'. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more specific technical vocabulary related to industrial processes, such as 'sorted', 'compressed', 'granulated', or 'manufactured'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'a person throwing plastic bottle' (missing article/verb agreement), 'other too different section' (incorrect preposition/word choice), and 'They made plastic bottles' (incorrect tense for a general process). Punctuation is also inconsistent. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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